Page 20 of Hollywood Games
‘Tired mainly. I want to go home.’
‘Do you want something to eat first?’
Barbara shook her head and grimaced. ‘No. The thought of food makes me feel unwell. We need to get home.Youneed to get home before she does any more damage.’
The back of Rory’s neck prickled. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘That woman. Showing her true colours the moment your back is turned.’
‘Mum, what on earth are you talking about?Whoare you talking about?’ said Rory, refusing to believe his mother could be referring to Zoe.
‘The Maxwell woman. I told you, Rory, time and time again. She’s cheap and common and she’s dragging you and the estate into the gutter.’
‘Mum! Stop it. Zoe has done nothing wrong.’
Barbara lifted her phone out of her handbag. ‘I had Linda Colquhoun texting me this morning.Linda Colquhoun, of all people. Lucy saw it and told her, then she told me. I was absolutely mortified.’ She opened her phone and gave it to him.
Rory took it and stared at the screen, his head pounding and stomach roiling. He looked at the person he loved the most in the world being touched up by Hollywood sleazeball Brad-fucking-Bauer. There he was in the local pub, tucking one of Zoe’s glorious curls behind her ear. Kissing her cheek. Staring at her as if she was already in his bed. Rory bit the side of his mouth, pain shooting down his jaw. He blinked rapidly and passed the phone back to his mother, the metallic tang of blood on his tongue.
‘Let’s go,’ he said.
When they got backto the castle, Rory checked his mother was alright and told her he had to go out. She let him go without a murmur, and he got back in her car and drove up the hill towards the cabin.Brad Bauer.Someone he never expected to see in Kinloch, and had no desire to meet.
He’d never been confident growing up. He always felt too big, too awkward. He never knew if people wanted his company for him, or because he was the heir to the Kinloch estate. And as for women… Lucy had been his longest relationship, and she spent most of the time comparing him to Brad. If his confidence was bad before he got together with Lucy, after she left him it was destroyed. When Zoe had come along, she freely admitted her puberty had been kickstarted by seeing Brad onscreen.Fuck!She probably had her first orgasm thinking about him.
And now he washere.
In Kinloch.
Could he ever hope to keep Zoe if Brad wanted her? Brad had looks, charm, money, power. And what did he have? Debts up to his eyeballs and a girlfriend who used to refer to him asMan-bear, yeti, mutant-redneck-hobbit, hobo. He had to keep Brad away from Zoe or he’d lose her forever.
As he rounded the last bend of the track and pulled up outside the cabin, Zoe ran onto the porch, waving wildly, her glorious red curls dancing.
‘Rory!’ she yelled, a massive smile on her face.
He unfolded himself from the car and looked at her. She was jiggling with excitement. He felt like he’d swallowed a ball of lead. She was so beautiful, so full of life. No wonder Brad wanted her. Any man in their right mind would want her. She was a firework explosion in a rainbow factory, and she’d chosen him. It was like he’d won the lottery a million times over.
‘Rory?’ Zoe’s smile wavered as he stood on the snowy ground before the porch. ‘Oh no, your mum. Is it bad news? What happened?’
Rory blinked. He’d completely forgotten about his mother. A wave of guilt swelled through him. ‘It’s inconclusive. They did a biopsy and we should get the results next week.’
‘At least no news is good news. Fingers crossed it’s all fine.’
Rory nodded.
Zoe’s forehead creased. ‘Can you stay for a bit? I’ve got the most amazing news. You’re not going to believe who turned up in Kinloch yesterday.’
Pressure built as Rory’s insides came to the boil. ‘Your first love. The man of your dreams.’
‘What?’ she asked. ‘You’re the love of my life, and I’m pretty sure it wasn’t Billy Weston from year six primary.’
‘I heard. Brad-fucking-perfect-Bauer showed up. What does he want?’
‘He wants to make a film here, Braveheart 2, at the castle. Isn’t it incredible? Come on in, I’ll tell you all about it.’ She turned towards the cabin door.
Rory didn’t move. ‘No,’ he said.
‘Do you have to get back?’
